Cats conceal illness until they can't. By the time a cat skips meals, hides, or stops grooming, the underlying problem has often been brewing for days — which turns 'let's watch it over the weekend' into a risky plan. Cats who stop eating can develop dangerous liver complications in as little as two to three days.
Our urgent care service gets sick cats seen the same day whenever possible, with feline-savvy handling and on-site diagnostics that find answers fast.
A male cat straining to urinate is an emergency, not an urgent care visit — call us or an emergency hospital immediately.
What to expect
Tell us what changed and when — appetite, litter habits, hiding, vomiting — and we'll triage by phone and see sick cats the same day whenever possible. Visits use cat-friendly handling with on-site lab work and imaging, so answers and treatment usually happen in one visit.
Urinary problems can't wait
- Straining in the litter box with little or no urine is an emergency — especially in male cats
- Frequent trips, crying, or blood in urine warrant a same-day visit
- We evaluate for FLUTD, blockage, and infection
Cat Urgent Careguides & handouts
Take-home guides from our resource library related to this service.
Frequently asked questions
My cat skipped two meals but seems okay otherwise. Should I wait?
Don't wait long — a cat who stops eating for more than 24 hours needs attention, because feline metabolism can tip into dangerous liver complications (hepatic lipidosis) within days, especially in overweight cats. Appetite loss in cats is a symptom that always has a reason.
Which cat symptoms should skip urgent care and go straight to emergency?
Straining in the litter box with little urine (especially males — possible fatal blockage), open-mouth or labored breathing, sudden hind-leg paralysis, repeated seizures, or known toxin exposure like lilies. Call us — we'll route you right in one minute.
Why do cats need same-day care for things dogs could sleep off?
Because by the time a cat shows illness, they've usually been hiding it for days — you're seeing day five, not day one. The safety margin a visibly sick dog might have is already spent in a visibly sick cat.
Ready to schedule?
Request an appointment at our Glendale clinic or call our team — we serve pets and their people across the surrounding communities.
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